Chapter 793

Chapter 793:

If the apparition was a perfect replica, Ashton trusted that it wouldn’t deal a lethal blow under non-lethal conditions.

After the hits, Ashton doubled over. A knee strike to his temple now would end him. But as expected, the apparition hesitated, mirroring Ashton’s habitual restraint, giving him a moment to recover.

This was Ashton’s enduring practice and now his only way to overcome himself.

Capitalizing on the apparition’s hesitation, Ashton pushed through the pain and hit its chin. Though the doppelgänger possessed boundless stamina, it still felt pain.

Caught off-guard, the apparition clutched its chin, allowing Ashton to floor it with a kick. He then pressed his foot firmly against its throat.

Instantly, the apparition fragmented like glass and began to vanish.

After ensuring the apparition had fully dispersed and was not returning, Ashton collapsed onto the ground, breathless. It was fortunate that Ashton knew his own weaknesses well; otherwise, defeating a version of himself with no physical boundaries would have been unattainable.

With Ashton’s doppelganger defeated, the stark environment slowly dissolved, transitioning back to the familiar confines of Leonardo’s home.

“So, I’ve passed both trials now, haven’t I?” Ashton asked, shaking his head to clear the lingering pain.

“You defeated yourself with such ease!” Quills said, clearly astonished.

“Have you always been aware of your weaknesses?” Snake Fang asked.

With a chuckle, Ashton replied, “Yes, I’ve always known them. I just choose not to change them.”

As a member of one of the four guardian families, Ashton was taught early on that his duty was to shield and save lives, not to take them.

𝓟𝓻𝓮𝓿𝓲𝓸𝓾𝓼 𝓬𝓱𝓪𝓹𝓽𝓮𝓻𝓼 𝗵𝓮𝗿𝗲: gⲁ𝗅𝗇𝗈ν𝖊𝗅𝘀⧾ⅼ𝗈𝗺

Thus, unless dealing with notorious terrorists like Red Jack and Fraser, Ashton preferred to offer even those who had wronged him significantly, such as the three members of the Marquez family, an opportunity for redemption.

Hence, although Ashton recognized that his leniency was a vulnerability, he steadfastly refused to leave it.

Quills and Snake Fang were taken aback and fell silent. Just as Ashton presumed they had departed, the two spirits spoke again.

Quills said, “Our trials are designed to probe the deepest human flaws. Throughout the thousands of years since our creation, only a few have passed the trials and earned our approval. Your performance has made us question whether you have any weaknesses at all.”

Ashton shook his head. “Imperfection is inherent. I have many weaknesses; some I’ve addressed, others I’ve concealed.”

“Nevertheless, your performance surpassed our expectations. Assigning our forces to you should pose no difficulties,” Snake Fang commented.

Narrowing his eyes with a smile, Ashton asked, “So, are you officially recognizing me as your master? If so, could you reveal your true capabilities?”

Quills responded promptly, “I’ve already introduced my power to you. I grant the ability to cause hallucinations. However, given the human body’s limitations, any hallucination can last no longer than three minutes.”

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